Somerset County

Arts & Entertainment

 

Dance

• Arthur Murray Dance Studios
  301 Route 22 East
  Green Brook, NJ 08812
  732-968-7600
  
  

Arts & Music

• The Brook Arts Center
  10 Hamilton Street
  Bound Brook, NJ 08805
  732-469-7700
  
  Brook Arts Center, one of only eight surviving vaudeville houses and dating back to 1927, offers live performances and silent movies, hosts educational and fundraising events, and serves as an arts incubator.
  
  
• Camera Naturalists Photography Club
  190 Lord Stirling Road
  Somerset County Environmental Education Center
  Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
  908-766-2489
  
  
• Central Jersey Symphony Orchestra
  Nash Theatre, Raritan Valley Community College
  118 Lamington Rd
  Branchburg, NJ 08876
  908-421-0462
  
  The Central Jersey Symphony is a community orchestra of 60 players, made up of amateur and professional musicians from all walks of life. The CJSO musicians are a fair representation of the community.  The mission of the Central Jersey Symphony is to enrich the community by inspiring a love of music through exciting performances, innovative programming, and educational outreach.  Performing at the Nash Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College, the CJSO accomplishes this mission by:
  
  *Presenting the rich repertoire of orchestral classical music, including contemporary works and works of lesser-known composers. 
  *Enhancing audience appreciation of orchestral music through interaction with musicians and composers. 
  *Creating performance opportunities for New Jersey artists, both amateur and professional.
  
  
• Farmstead Arts Center
  450 King George Road
  Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
  347-927-8748
  
  Located at the Kennedy-Martin-Stelle Farmstead, Farmstead Arts Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve, develop and operate the Farmstead as an historical site, an educational resource and as a venue for community arts and culture.
  
  
• Fleetwood Museum of Art & Photographica
  614 Greenbrook Road
  North Plainfield, NJ 07063
  908-756-7810
  
  The Museum is housed in the Vermeule Community Center, an early 19th century mansion, located on a beautiful eight-acre Green Acres tract on Greenbrook Road, at the corner of Clinton Avenue in North Plainfield. The museum contains over 800 cameras, illustrating the 150 year evolution of camera design, and examples of many of the photographic processes which evolved during that period. The MISSION of the museum is to preserve and display these artifacts and to use them to stimulate interest in the art and science of photography.
  
  
• Matheny School & Hospital Arts Access Program
  P.O. Box 339/Main Street
  Peapack, NJ 07977
  908-234-0011 x1440
  
  The Arts Access Program offers facilitated experiences in drama, music, painting, sculpture, dance and writing to individuals with severe disabilities.
  
  
• Notables Singers
  P.O. Box 5244
  Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
  973-216-4911
  
  Notables is a group of about 20 women who sing and perform "America's Favorite Music" in sounds in Broadway, jazz and pop. Notables is led by a professional musical director and accompanied by a pianist and instrumentalist (clarinet and bass). The group performs primarily in Somerset and Morris Counties and central New Jersey for a wide variety of audiences at a venues such as libraries and senior residences, and is available for bookings for private groups.
  
  
• Printmaking Center of New Jersey
  440 River Road
  Branchburg, NJ 08876
  908-725-2110
  
  
  More than thirty five years ago, the Printmaking Council was formed to support the fine art of printmaking statewide. The Printmaking Council offers many ongoing activities and programs. The Roving Press reaches thousands of students each year, by providing on-site arts education to schools and organizations throughout the state. Subjects include photography, printmaking, papermaking and book arts, and are available for children and adults. 
  Professional artists and novices alike enroll in classes and workshops. In addition to classes, Printmaking Council members can rent time in the professional studios for a fee. The Printmaking Council of New Jersey also houses a gallery which hosts seven exhibitions each year both in-house and at other venues. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.
  
  
• Raritan Valley Choral Society
  P.O. Box 6044
  Hillsborough, NJ 08844-6044
  908-781-6351
  
  The Raritan Valley Choral Society, founded in 1990 in Hillsborough, New Jersey, is a chorus of varying ages, backgrounds and careers. The chorus is open to all residents of the region and offers a wide range of musical experiences. The Riverside Singers, an auditioned unit within the chorus, performs for special events requiring a smaller chorus, Christmas caroling in Hillsborough and Montgomery annually.
  
  
• Raritan Valley Community College Art Gallery
  Branchburg Campus
  118 Lamington Road
  Branchburg, NJ 08876
  908-526-1200
  
  The RVCC Art Gallery hosts monthly exhibits of faculty, student and guest artists September through May, in addition to a holiday show and sale. All shows are free and open to the public; check the website for dates and times.
  
  
• Raritan Valley Symphonic Band
  P.O. Box 6064
  Hillsborough, NJ 08844
  908-359-3136
  
  Three formal concerts are held yearly and one or more informal outdoor "Pops" concerts are held in the summer. All concerts are free and usually held at the Hillsborough High School auditorium. The band sponsors clinics and other musical events that are open to the public. Concerts are provided also for civic, patriotic and other events by smaller ensembles within the Band.
  
  
• Somerset Hills Children's Chorus
  88 Claremont Road
  Bernardsville, NJ 07924
  908-766-0602 ext. 29
  
  The Somerset Hills Children's Chorus is a choral program for children in grades 3 through 10, divided into three ensembles: an Advanced Chorus for grades 6-10, a Preparatory Chorus for grades 4-6 and Musicianship Class for 3rd graders. In addition to public concerts in December and the spring, the Chorus performs throughout the year for various community and corporate functions. It participates in educational music activities, such as children’s choral festivals, music conventions and collaborations with other professional music ensembles. The Advanced Chorus also takes part in domestic and international tours.
  
  
• Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission Art Gallery
  20 Grove Street
  Somerset County Administration Building
  Somerville, NJ 08876
  908-231-7110
  
  
• Somerset County Photography Club
  C/O David McRitchie
  410 West Maple Avenue
  BoundBrook, NJ 08805
  732-469-8481
  
  
• Somerset County Vocational Technical School Theatre
  Vogt Avenue
  Bridgewater, NJ 08807
  908-526-8900
  
  A 600-seat theatre in Bridgewater offering theater, concerts, and dance performances, this venue produces the "Jazz in Bridgewater" Concert Series and Jazz Weekend, as well as hosting concert performances by the Central Jersey Symphony Orchestra.
  
  
• Somerset Valley Orchestra
  1124 Route 202 South, Suite B-11
  The Centre at Raritan
  Raritan, NJ 
  908-725-4938
  
  
  Three major concerts are performed each year, which feature soloists and direct musical conversation between the conductor and the audience.
  
  
• Somerset Valley Players
  689 Amwell Road
  Rte. 514
  Neshanic, NJ 08844-3317
  908-369-7469
  
  This community theatre provides quality entertainment to the public as well as arts education to young people.  Year-round entertainment, children's programs and free senior citizens evenings are offered. Open auditions are held frequently.
  
  
• The Brook Arts Center
  10 Hamilton Street
  Bound Brook, NJ 08805
  732-469-7700
  
  Brook Arts Center, one of only eight surviving vaudeville houses and dating back to 1927, offers live performances and silent movies, hosts educational and fundraising events, and serves as an arts incubator.
  
  
• The Center for Contemporary Art
  2020 Burnt Mill Road
  Bedminster, NJ 07921
  908-234-2345
  
  The Center for Contemporary Art (formerly known as the Somerset Art Association) is a vital regional art center with a comprehensive studio art school, professional exhibition program and important community outreach component.
  
  
• The Children's Museum of Somerset County
  The PeopleCare Center, 120 Finderne Avenue
  Bridgewater, NJ 08807
  908-725-4677
  
  Through educational exhibits and programs, the Children's Museum of Somerset, NJ hopes to inspire every child's natural curiosity and creativity, and to nurture a love of learning. The museum also showcases the talents of young adults in the county.
  
  
• The Nash Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College
  Route 28 & Lamington Road
  North Branch, NJ 
  (908) 725-3420
  
  
• The Planetarium at Raritan Valley Community College
  Route 28 and Lamington Road
  North Branch, NJ 08876
  908-231-8805
  
  Discover a world of wonder and exclitement when you journey into the planetarium, where you will find laser concerts and star shows.  The planetarium also hosts field trips, as well as the Science Education Institute.
  
  
• USGA Museum
  77 Liberty Corner Road
  Far Hills, NJ 07931
  908-234-2300
  
  A visit to the Museum is certain to provide an experience that is fun and educational for everyone – even for visitors who may never have held a golf club in their hands before. Whether you are an avid golfer, a scholar of the game’s history, a casual sports fan, or simply someone interested in the history of American culture, the USGA Museum aims to provide an experience that is truly unique and memorable.
  
  
• Vermeule Art Center
  Clinton Avenue and Vermeule Place
  North Plainfield, NJ 07063
  908-754-1408
  
  The Vermeule Art Center offers member classes in watercolor and other types of painting, needlecraft and quilting, as well as hosting field trips and demonstrations.
  
  
• Villagers Theatre
  475 DeMott Lane
  Somerset, NJ 08873
  732-873-2710
  
  Year-round presentations, offering seven main stage productions, four Black Box productions, four KidsVill productions, one TeensVill production, Summer Theatre Arts Program, and numerous special events.
  
  
• Watchung Arts Center
  18 Stirling Road, at the Watchung Circle
  Watchung, NJ 07069
  908-753-0190